I've said before on this subject, I follow both codes of the sport and let me tell you these exact same discussions are had across the divide every week about toughening the rules in the modern age around head shots, what is foul play, red cards, etc etc etc. A lot of fans, and even players and coaches, lament about it but this isn't going to change with all the stuff around head and brain injuries and the long term effects of playing rugby, and people need to get real and accept it.
Tackle technique has to change, and this is probably more of an issue for League (traditionally the more collision based version of the sport) than Union, but they're going to have do it. And everyone involved in the sport will have to also accept that unpopular or not this might well mean weaker, softer, more passive defence. Easier to make metres, offload and pass, and so therefore easier to score tries and points. And less of the "biff". That's the journey we're on, I don't see the direction changing.
Harsh or not, Shorrocks was far too upright, was leading more with the shoulder than an arm wrapping tackle, and managed to clout someone in the head. The players adapt, or keep getting red carded.
Mainly though I thought that loss was more about our lack of threat in attack. Yeah it was a wet day, but just one up passive runners as everyone else stood about, then give it to Smith to punt as high as he can in the air, and hope French/Field might eventually come up with some magic, is nowhere near enough. The attacking structure isn't good enough this year, and I don't actually think the biggest problem is not making metres.
I have accepted it - I haven't bought a season ticket in a number of years. It's no longer the game I grew up watching and loving.
its not hard, cover french and field and we have nothing, we rely on their individual brilliance, without them we would be battling wakefield
wigan have always been a hard team to beat on most occasions but today we replecated what you have done for years won a big game without bringing the house down field and french are key to your results play decent you win bottle them up and its game on
wigan have always been a hard team to beat on most occasions but today we replecated what you have done for years won a big game without bringing the house down field and french are key to your results play decent you win bottle them up and its game on
We lack experienced leaders in situations like these for me. If you look at how Catalans players have come on with Tomkins and Micky Mac in the team and how they follow their every word, we don’t have that in spine positions. We’ve got a young 7, 9 and 13, a guy who isn’t a natural stand off at 6 and Field at 1, who again isn’t hugely experienced in these games and doesn’t seem a massive talker. I think we win that game today with an experienced leader like Sam Tomkins in there.
Agreed, so then I start looking higher up at Radlinski and his inability to build a squad. This last 5 years has been like the 5 in the run up to Maguire, we badly need an outsider to shake up this ‘culture’ where we lose semi-finals too regularly for a top club.
The more I think about the game the more I think Matty Peet got his post match comments badly wrong. It was an awful big game performance and Peet is either arrogant or naive not to acknowledge that.
The more I think about the game the more I think Matty Peet got his post match comments badly wrong. It was an awful big game performance and Peet is either arrogant or naive not to acknowledge that.
been the same since Peet took over, our defence has been poor, its just our attack has masked it, now its slowed down the cracks are appearing